BENEATH THE SILENCE

CHAPTER 16; WEB OF LIES

The air in the apartment thickened.

Eliana stared at the badge for a full minute, her fingers trembling.

I.D.A. — the same agency rumored to clean up scandals before they reached daylight.

She zipped Sofia's bag closed just as the front door clicked open.

"Eliana?" Sofia called.

Eliana turned.

"Hey... You left your bag out."

Sofia walked in, her stilettos clicking against the tile.

"Did I? Must've been distracted."

Eliana smiled tightly.

They sat across from each other, two women who once shared ramen and midnight gossip sessions—now locked in a silent war behind polite grins.

"So," Eliana began, "what made you come back?"

Sofia shrugged.

"You were always the brave one. I figured you'd do something reckless."

"And the I.D.A.?"

Sofia's smile froze.

"What are you talking about?"

"The badge in your bag," Eliana said. "You should hide your secrets better."

Sofia's face hardened, the warmth draining from her eyes like water from a cracked glass.

"I warned them," she said quietly, "that you were too clever."

Eliana stood up slowly.

"You were working with Marcus?"

"No," Sofia replied, standing too. "I was working above Marcus. Cleaning his messes. And you've become one."

In a blur, Eliana lunged for the burner phone—but Sofia beat her to it, kicking the table aside.

"You're not thinking clearly," Sofia said. "Come with me. We'll protect you. You'll disappear."

Eliana stared at her.

"Disappear... or be silenced?"

Before Sofia could answer, the window shattered.

Damian burst through in a storm of glass and fury, his arm bandaged but his aim steady.

"Back. Away. From. Her."

Sofia slowly raised her hands.

"Well, this just got interesting."

⸻

Minutes later, they had her tied to a chair with belts.

She smirked the whole time.

"You won't get far," Sofia warned.

"Marcus was the first layer. The I.D.A. is watching you now."

"We've got copies of everything," Damian said.

"And friends."

"You have names," Eliana corrected,

"but we have proof. People are finally listening."

Sofia laughed.

"You really think the world cares about the truth?"

"I think they care about a scandal when it's bloody enough," Tunji said, entering the room.

Didi followed, holding up her phone.

"The leak is live. Right now."

Sofia's expression finally cracked.

"You idiots just signed your death warrants."

Eliana walked up to her, bent down, and whispered:

"Then we'll go down in flames. Together."